SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (July 21, 2016)- Following a mixed season that has seen everything from winning the biggest race of the year, to most recently suffering their first DNF in over 12 months, Magnus Racing is heading to Lime Rock Park, the seventh round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, in search of simply seeing the finish of the most notorious circuit in the championship.
“Any time we go to Lime Rock, we’re often just showing up with our fingers crossed,” stated Magnus Racing team owner and co-driver John Potter. “The two keys to this race are: 1. Not crashing, and 2. Finishing ahead of the competition. We failed both of those goals in in our last race. Now that we’re entering the final five races of the championship, the intensity is going to be that much higher and we just want to have a good showing.”
At 1.5 miles in length, the scenic track located in Lakeville, Connecticut is most known for its tight confines and often incident-packed racing. As the shortest track of the entire IMSA circuit, the venue notoriously provides not only close racing, but alternative strategy options due to shorter lap times and a high likelihood for caution periods.
Unfortunately for the crew of the No. 44 Audi Tire Center Audi R8 LMS, the reputation of Lime Rock has preceded itself. In 2012, the team took a gamble on fuel strategy that ended up not working, forcing the team to give up a victory just two laps from the end. One year later, as the season finale, the team would return to the venue as the championship leader only to find themselves caught up in an accident on the second lap.
For 2016, the focus is simply on running a steady race with a goal of managing attrition.
For Andy Lally, who grew up just two hours away, the return to Lime Rock acts as his “second home track” of the 2016 season.
“Growing up in Long Island, Lime Rock is always a track I look forward to seeing many friends at,” stated Andy Lally. “While I’ve always considered Watkins Glen my home track, in many ways Lime Rock provides a similar satisfaction and it’s always an event I want to perform well at. The guys have been hard at work since our last event in Canada, and both John and I really want to reward them for their efforts.”
The Northeast Grand Prix will take place this Saturday, July 23, with coverage on FOX at 3PM ET.